Saturday, December 31, 2011

Factsheet: Israel Abuses of Child Fishers in Gaza: The Need for Protection

The
Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) continue to impose restrictions on
Palestinian fishermen, limiting their fishing zone to three nautical
miles. This limitation prevents
fishermen from their right to work and has diminished their source of
income and thrown them into dire poverty. The
IOF also continues its systematic attacks on fishermen, frequently
pursuing and arresting them and destroying their fishing equipment.

Gazan fishermen are considered the poorest social group in the Strip. In 2010, poverty among fishermen was estimated at 90%, up from 50% in 2008[1]. Under
Israel’s siege of Gaza unemployment has raised dramatically and the
fishers’ community has been living under extreme poverty, pushing many
Gazan children to work in the fishing sector. The estimated number of children working in the fishing sector is about 190.[2]
Most of those work with their families, who usually cannot afford to
hire adult, professional fishermen due to their difficulties. Subject
to live fire and other attacks by the IOF, child fishers risk their
lives on their small vessels and are constantly subjected to fear and
panic, which affect their mental development. According to Al Mezan’s documentation, since the beginning of 2010 the IOF has carried out about 113 attacks against fishermen. As a result of these attacks, 11 people were injured; including two child fishers.

The IOF continues to arrest Palestinian fishermen, including children. The
IOF typically forces fishermen to take off their clothes, jump into the
sea, even in the cold winter water, and swim towards Israeli vessels. The IOF also handcuffs the fishermen with plastic straps, blindfolds them, and interrogates them in Israeli detention centers. According to Al Mezan’s documentation, since the beginning of 2010 the IOF has arrested 66 fishermen, including seven children.

[1] International Committee of the Red Cross, “Gaza closure: not another year!”, news release no. 10/103, 14 June 2010, online.

[2]All
child fishers are believed to be over 16 years old. Of them 113 are
registered and approximately 70 are working without registration, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Fishery in Gaza.